1. Carlos Rogers received the Redskins Media Good Guy Award, as voted on by the local media. Just a warning: the last two corners who won this award were gone the next season. That would be Champ Bailey and Fred Smoot – and Rogers is well aware of that legacy. Considering he’s a free agent, he might join them. He says he’d like to return, but he also says: “Everyone always looks for that big contract.”
2. So, yes, Rogers is looking forward to free agency. He was annoyed, as were a number of players, that he was a restricted free agent last year (his fifth in the league). He would like to remain in Washington, if possible. “Hopefully I’ll be back, but you know how negotiations go,” he said.
3. Rogers received a less-than-glowing response from defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. Right after discussing what a perfect fit DeAngelo Hall was for his scheme, Haslett was asked about Rogers. Earlier this year he raved about him.
Thursday, Haslett said, “Carlos is good. Somehow he has to remain consistent over a six-month span. Over the last couple years he’s had a hard time doing that.”
4. Haslett also acknowledged that they need more balance from their pass rush. With Brian Orakpo on the right side, that means he wants more production from the left side.
“Guys are playing hard, doing a good job,” Haslett said. “Andre [Carter] started out, Lorenzo. Are they the guys for the future? I don’t know, but they did a nice job. But you need another guy like Rak that can really turn it and get you some sacks.”
5. Haslett said defensive end Adam Carriker had an excellent game vs. Jacksonville. Have to agree; Carriker got more penetration than in previous games and was more involved overall. Haslett said Carriker finished with four quarterback hits, a sack and five tackles in 44 plays.
“That was the best game since I’ve seen him,” said Haslett, who coached him for two seasons in St. Louis. “He was active, used his hands to get off blocks.”
6. Rogers, by the way, was the only player to miss practice. Can’t say the same for the Giants who had six players sit out Thursday: S Brian Jackson (knee), WR Hakeem Nicks (toe), C Shaun O’Hara (foot), S Antre Rolle (ankle), DE Dave Tollefson (knee) and CB Corey Webster (ribs). Nicks and O’Hara aren’t expected to play Sunday. That’ll cause re-shuffling along the offensive line for New York.
7. Linebacker Lorenzo Alexander received the Redskins Walter Payton Man of the Year for his work in the community. He’s now automatically nominated, along with the winners from the other 31 teams, to be the NFL’s man of the year.
“To be where I’m at now is awesome and humbling in the same breath,” Alexander said.
8. Alexander grew up poor in a single-family home in Oakland. But he’s always talked about the number of people who helped him, especially an uncle. So when he had the chance, he said he wanted to give back.
Alexander started, and runs, the A.C.E.S Foundation, which stands for Accountability, Community, Education, Sports.
“To be able to enrich myself in the community and to give back and make it better than what it was when I [got] here is an awesome feeling,” he said. “I plan to stay here after I’m done and hopefully carry on a Darrell Green legacy around here as far as helping the community.”
9. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said he doesn’t know if suspended defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth will be in town for end-of-season meetings next week. Haslett said he hasn’t spoken with Haynesworth since his suspension on Dec. 8. Haslett said Haynesworth reached out to him through teammate Vonnie Holliday several weeks ago. The NFLPA has field a grievance on behalf of Haynesworth against the Redskins.
“I told him I wouldn’t call him until it was over with,” Haslett said.
10. Haslett laughed when recalling Rob Jackson’s early days at outside linebacker. He was told to line up between “the 1 and the 2.”
“He’s trying to line up between this crack and I said what are you doing Rob?” Haslett said. “He said I’m trying to get between the 1 and the 2. I said, there’s a wideout out there. The guy never knew they had wideouts on the field.
“It’ll take time with him.”
But he liked his first outing. And Jackson is expected to play some at left outside linebacker this week after rushing mostly from the right side vs. Jacksonville.
“He just outworked those guys last week,” Haslett said. “He has enough ability to play on the left side. His area is trying to understand the defense. He’ll grow.”
11. Haslett said he’d like to have ILB Rocky McIntosh return next season, saying that he and London Fletcher are a good 1-2 duo inside.
“He picked it up as the season was going on and got better,” he said of McIntosh. “He always makes a lot of tackles at the end of the game.”
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